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Corte Madera, CA                                                                                                         August 2013
The Inside Source is produced by Marin Municipal Water District to inform local decisionmakers and opinion leaders on issues affecting Marin's water, people and environment.

Features
No Rate Increases this Year
20 Gallon Challenge Continues
Water Project EIR Starting Soon
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MMWD Board of Directors 
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Upcoming Public Meetings
 
Tues., September 3, 7:30 pm
BOARD MEETING 
Board Room 


Tues., September 17, 7:30 pm
BOARD MEETING 
Board Room  

RESERVOIRS STILL CLOSE TO NORMAL
Total reservoir storage is 98 percent of average for this date, surprisingly high given this year's record-dry spring. Contributing factors include an unusually rainy fall and early winter, conservation efforts by district customers and a cooler summer.

 

Here are the current water statistics:

  • Reservoir Levels - As of August 25, reservoir storage is 57,497acre-feet,* or 72 percent of capacity. The average for this date is 58,538 acre-feet, or 74 percent of capacity. Total capacity is 79,566 acre-feet.  
  • Rainfall - Rainfall this year to date (July 1-August 25, 2013) is 0.03 inches. Average for the same period is 0.13 inches.
  • Water Use - Water use for the week ending August 25 averaged 31.8 million gallons per day, compared to 32.1 million gallons per day for the same week last year.     
  • Creek Releases - During the month of July 2013 MMWD released 268 million gallons, or a total of 823 acre-feet, into Lagunitas and Walker creeks in west Marin. We release water throughout the year to maintain adequate flows for the fishery per our agreements with the State of California.
Water use and reservoir figures can be found on the homepage of our website.

 

*One acre-foot is 325,851 gallons.


NEW REBATE PROGRAM LAUNCHES SEPTEMBER 1
After a four-year hiatus, MMWD is launching a new rebate program on September 1. The rebates include:
  • Up to $100 for the purchase of a high-efficiency toilet (1.28 gallons per flush) 
  • Up to $50 for the purchase of a high-efficiency clothes washer
  • Up to $20 per active residential valve station for the purchase of a smart irrigation controller and up to $30 per active commercial valve station
MMWD also is unveiling a new tagline for the rebate campaign: Get Paid to Save. Customers not only get rebates on their purchases, they will continue to save money, and water, in the long run by replacing old high water use toilets, clothes washers and irrigation controllers with water-efficient models. More

BOARD VOTES FOR "RATE INCREASE HOLIDAY"; PURSUES RATE RESTRUCTURE PROPOSAL
Earlier this month the MMWD Board of Directors unanimously agreed to forgo any rate increase this year or next by declaring a "Rate Increase Holiday." The rate increase holiday is possible due to improved financial conditions resulting from years of stringent budget control and increased water revenue leading to improvements in both operating reserves and cash flow.

The Board is also aware of issues with the current MMWD rate structure and is determined to bring forth a revised rate structure that is fair and equitable for all customers.

In June of this year the Board approved a two-year budget for this fiscal year (2013/14) and next (2014/15). The approved operating budget for FY14 is $75.5 million and the capital budget, including fire flow, is $22.8 million. The approved operating budget for FY15 is $77.2 million and the capital budget is $23.5 million. The District is able to cover all operating costs, continue to invest in capital projects and maintain adequate operating reserves without raising rates. More

"20 GALLON CHALLENGE" CONTINUES INTO FALL
In response to this year's record-dry spring, MMWD and other members of the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership joined forces to promote voluntary conservation this summer through the "20 Gallon Challenge." The goal is to encourage North Bay water users to reduce their water use by 20 gallons per person, per day. The Sonoma-Marin Partnership includes the nine North Bay cities and water districts that use Russian River water.

The campaign offers tangible conservation tips demonstrating what 20 gallons is and how to save 20 gallons per day. Customers can find water conservation ideas and make a personal pledge on the Challenge website at 20gallons.org. Anyone who completes the online pledge is entered into monthly drawings for water-wise prizes such as a high-efficiency clothes washer, professional landscape design services, a graywater system and more.

HIGH WATER QUALITY BUILT ON MANY LAYERS OF PROTECTION
Earlier this summer MMWD released this year's annual water quality report demonstrating, once again, that the water provided by the district meets, and in fact surpasses, all state and federal health regulations.

How does MMWD ensure such high water quality? We build in many layers of protection from the watershed to the tap, including:
  • Excellent water sources: Reservoir water from protected watershed lands in Marin and imported water from the Russian River in Sonoma;
  • Active water treatment using a proven multi-step process;  
  • Constant monitoring: We test 120,000 water samples per year.   
For more information, read the 2013 report, which is available in English and Spanish on our website or in print. To request a printed copy, call the Water Quality Lab at (415) 945-1550.
START OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FOR PROPOSED WATER STORAGE PROJECT
The MMWD Board of Directors recently voted to move forward with plans to increase the district's treated water storage capacity and unanimously approved a contract for an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed project, the Water Storage Improvement Project (WSIP).

The WSIP involves the construction of new treated water storage facilities on district property on Mt. Tamalpais to replace two existing facilities, also on Mt. Tamalpais, that are nearly 100 years old. These facilities, Pine Mountain Tunnel (1918) and Ross Reservoir (1929), are under-sized and also pose water quality challenges due to their age and structural deterioration.

The district is proposing to replace the two outdated facilities with three new tanks: two concrete water tanks of two million gallons each at the Ross Reservoir site and one four-million-gallon concrete tank near Five Corners. The budget for this proposed project is approximately $23 million, which is included in MMWD's proposed capital budgets through fiscal year 2018/19.

The EIR will present an evaluation of the proposed project, project alternatives and the potential impacts associated with the construction of new water storage facilities as well as regulatory agency permitting. There will be several opportunities for public comment during the EIR process, scheduled to begin this fall. More

SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF PIPELINE PROJECT AT THE "HUB" IN SAN ANSELMO
This summer MMWD successfully completed a major pipeline project involving the installation of 3,600 feet of pipeline on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and Red Hill Avenue in San Anselmo that cross at the busy intersection known as "the Hub." Work on the project began in early June and was completed in early August, a full week ahead of schedule, thanks to the diligence of the contractor, Maggiora & Ghilotti, Inc., and efforts by the Town of San Anselmo staff to facilitate the project.

NEW BLOG POSTS
Check out these recent posts from MMWD's blog, Think Blue Marin:
  • Start the school year with a splash! Learn about MMWD's 2013-14 water education program for schools here
  • These troubleshooting tips can help you track down a water leak at your home or business.   
  • The Mt. Tamalpais Watershed is one of the few remaining homes of California's only native freshwater turtle. Once abundant, the western pond turtle is now listed as a vulnerable species. Read more here.   

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
We welcome your comments and need your help raising awareness about water in Marin. Please share this information with your colleagues and constituents. Thank you!
Libby Pischel, Public Information Officer
Marin Municipal Water District
[email protected]
(415) 945-1421